Adjustable shelving



United States Patent Inventor Louis Maslow Huntsville Road, Dallas,Pennsylvania 18612 Appl. No. 726,080

Filed May 2, 1968 Patented Aug. 11, 1970 Continuation-impart of Ser. No.627,120, filed Mar. 30, 1967, now Patent No. 3,424,11 1.

ADJUSTABLE SHELVING 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 108/144,

21 1/ 181 Int. Cl A47b 9/00 Field 01' Search 108/144,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,292 8/1935 Campbell248/412 2,705,119 3/1955 lngwer 248/412X 3,225,720 12/1965 Maslow 2|l/l8lX 3,280,767 10/1966 Kahn 108/144 3,316,864 5/1967 Maslow....2ll/l8lX 3,395,810 8/1968 Johnson 21 1/181X Primary Examiner- James T.McCall Attorney-Friedman and Goodman Patnted Aug. 11, 1970 3,523,508

ATTORNEYS Ptented Aug. 11 1 970 Sheet FIG. 5

INVENTOR. Jaws wszam/ BY I m Mum *1 ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLESHELVINGRELATIONSHIP WITI-I PRIOR APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 627,120; filedMar. 30, I967, now Pat. 2 No. 3,424,111, entitled Readily Assemblableand Adjustable Shelving.

-l BACKGROUN-DOF THEINVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates generally to shelving. More particularly, the invention relatesto improved adjustable shelving which may be readily adjusted to variousdesired heights or readily assembled and disassembled.

Descriptionof the prior art Adjustable metal shelving is known.So-called knockdown metal shelving is also known. However, it is adistinct disadvantage, among others, in the aforenoted prior artshelving that the corner supports therefor, through which the cornerposts extend are provided with set screw or set bolts which proceedthrough threaded apertures, by means of which the corner support isaffixed to each corner post. Thus, in order to adjust the height of theshelf, or to assemble it or disassemble it, the set screws must beloosened or tightened, as the circumstance may require, by suitabletools before such action can be accomplished. As mentioned, in order toassemble the posts and shelves a tool, such as a screw driver, isrequired. Oftentimes, in attempting to assure a tight fit of cornersupport to corner post, the set screw or bolt is turned for an excessivenumber of revolutions, and the post is thereby caused to be dented orsimilarly damaged; or, additionally, the threads of the set screw becomestripped requiring its replacement. On the other hand, if the screw isthreaded too loosely into the threaded aperture to prevent damage to thepost or screw, then the shelf, loaded with goods may collapse. Stillfurther, if the set screw is lost the shelving is useless until theproper size set screw is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the invention It is an object of theinvention therefor to overcome the aforementioned prior artdisadvantages by providing shelving requiring no set screws or setbolts, or the use of tools in conjunction therewith.

It is another object to provide adjustable shelving wherein the shelvesare firmly held to the supporting posts and as the weight of material onthe shelves increases the posts become increasingly more firmly engagedand tightly held to the Statement of the invention In accordance withthe present invention readily assemblable shelving is providedcomprising a shelf member having corner supports secured thereto at eachcorner of said shelf member, said corner supports being adapted toreceive and securely hold corner posts provided with graduated recessesalong their vertical dimension, and said corner posts also being fittedwith post supports for holding said corner support and corner post insecured relation. The spacing of the shelving, relative to each other,is adjusted by varying the positions of the post supports along theheight of the corner posts. The posts are engaged within the postsupports by virtue of the fact wardly extending frusto-conical sectionshape, an outwardly extending ridge, said mounting member comprising atleast two members which interengage one. another in holding relationshipwhen said inwardly extending rib is engaged within an indentation alonga post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be more readilyunderstood and appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE I is a perspective view of adjustable shelving pursuant to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2-is an exploded view of a corner portion of the adjustableshelving shown in FIG. l; 7

FIGURE 3 is a detail view partly in section of the assembly shown inFIG. 3;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of adjustable shelving pursuant to the presentinvention showing the shelf adjusted to different heights along the postmembers; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment is shownin the accompanying drawings in which the shelf is generally designatedby reference numeral 2. It is constructed of criss-crossing wiresupported along the periphery by parallel running vertically disposedwires 4 and 6 having a corrugated wire 8 joining the same. This joinsthe four corners 10, 12, I4 and 16. A similar support wire runslengthwise across the shelf in the center thereof. At the corners weldedto wires 4 and 6 are conicallyshaped post receiving members 18 whichtaper outwardly toward their lower extremity.

A post 20 is provided with a plurality of periodically spacedindentations 22 which indentations can accommodate a rib 24 positionedon the inside periphery of a post mounting member generally representedby reference numeral 26. This post mounting member comprises at leasttwo separate members which can be joined about post 20 in holdingengagement. The separate members are shown in FIG. 2 and are designatedby reference numerals 30 and 32. Each separate member cornprises a mainwall 33 and is provided at its lowermost edge with a semi circularoutwardly extending ridge so that when the members 30 and 32 are joinedtogether about post 20 there is defined a .circular ridge 38. The postmounting member has a conical shape and is adapted in size to fit snuglywithin the post receiving member 18. The conical shape of the' mountingmember is due principally to thefact that it is constructed so that itsthickness increases gradually from its uppermost edge 40 to itslowermost edge 42 as seen in FIG. 3. It

is constructed of a material which is yieldable enough so that a.

half of the member can become engaged about the post 20 when the rib 24is within an indentation 22. A suitable materi al of construction forthe mounting member is aluminum.

The mounting member halves are generally constructed so that when theybecome engaged about the post 20 they tend to tongue portion designated48 and 48a and a groove designated 50 and 50a.

The use of the adjustable shelving assembly is very simple;

The desired height of the shelf is first determined and the mountingmembers are then placed about the posts. This is done by engaging a halfof the mounting member on post 20,

by placing the rib 24 within the appropriate indentation 22 on post 20corresponding to the desired height. The mounting I member half tends tosnap into place. In place it serves as a guide via the tongue and grooveconstruction for fastening the remaining half thereto about post 20.When this is done the post is ready to become engaged within the postreceiving member 18. The post with the mounting member thereabout isthen passed upwards through post receiving member 18. When the mountingmember is within receiving member I8 the post is firmly engaged to theshelf due to the relative sizes of the conical-shaped receiving meansand the conical-shaped mounting means. When all four posts are inserted,the shelf is in adjusted position and ready for use. It should beapparent that as the weight on the shelf increases the mounting memberhalves are brought even closer together in locking relationship with oneanother. The shelf is supported, of course, due to the support providedby the outwardly extending ridge 38 as seen in FIG. 3.

Various modifications of the assembly shown above are possible. Forinstance, instead of employing a tongue and groove assembly asillustrated, another assembly can be provided where the two halvesinter-engage one another about a vertical post provided withindentations. Additionally, instead of providing ridge 38 at thelowermost extremity of the mounting member it can be provided at anotherpoint along its periphery such as midway up the periphery of themounting member. Another desirable feature is to provide the bottom ofthe posts with a leveling assembly having an hexagonal foot or similarfoot which can be turned by an ordinary wrench to level the adjustableshelving assembly should it be used under circumstances where thesurface upon which the shelf is being placed is unlevel.

FIG. 6 shows the versatility of the adjustable shelving in addition toshowing utilization of a shelf member constructed of wires 3 in turnsupported by a wire supporting assembly comprising a pair of verticallyrunning wires positioned parallel to one another, one over the other andreinforced by a corrugated wire extending along a major portion of thelength of the wires. This reinforcing effect is shown in FIG. 6.

The terms and expressions used herein have been used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation as there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents, or portionsthereof, as many modifications and departures are possible within thescope ofthe invention.

lclaim:

l. Shelving comprising a flat shelf member having corner post receivingmembers having a frusto-conical section shape and being adapted toreceive and securely hold corner posts positioned within a mountingassembly comprising a frustoconical section shaped member surrounding apost provided on its interior periphery with an inwardly extending ribengageable within any one of a plurality of horizontally runningindentations on said post, said mounting assembly provided with anexteriorly disposed ridge adaptable to engage and hold a cornerreceiving member.

2. Shelving according to Claim 1, wherein said mounting assemblycomprises at least two separate members adaptable to inter-engage oneanother in holding position when said rib is positioned within anindentation, said mounting assembly snugly fitting within said postreceiving member.

3. Shelving according to Claim 2, wherein there are two halvescomprising said mounting assembly each of which is provided with atongue and groove adaptable to engage a groove and tongue on the otherhalf.

4. Shelving according to Claim 3, wherein said ridge is positioned onthe lowermost extremity ofsaid mounting assembly.

5. Shelving according to Claim 4, wherein said mounting assembly issufficiently yieldable to be snapped about said post.

6. Shelving according to Claim 4, wherein said mounting assembly isconstructed of aluminum.

7. Shelving comprising a flat shelf member having crisscrossing wiressupported by a pair of parallel running wires positioned one over theother and joined together by a corrugated wire, and said shelf memberhaving corner supports joined together by a pair of parallel runningwires positioned one over the other and joined together by a corrugatedwire.

8. Shelving according to Claim 7, having corner post receiving membershaving a frusto-conical section shape and being adapted to receive andsecurely hold corner posts positioned within a mounting assemblycomprising a frusto-conical section shaped member surrounding a postprovided on its interior periphery with an inwardly extending rib engaeable within any one of a plurality of horizontally running in entationson said post, said mounting assembly provided with an exteriorlydisposed ridge adaptable to engage and hold a corner receiving member.

